Page 88 of Visions of You
"Yes," Jaron said without hesitation. After a few seconds, he added, "But I don't know if it would be better."
Keegan sat up, considering Jaron thoughtfully. "How so?"
Jaron's gaze drifted as he pondered the question. "I've always had to live with the knowledge that I was disappointing my family. That I wasn't living up to their expectations or the potential they saw in me."
He paused, his expression shifting to something more resolute. "But in the end, it freed me from the expectations that my younger siblings now have to carry. The pressure to be perfect, to always put the family name first."
Jaron met Keegan's eyes. "I wouldn't be the person I am now if I'd had powers. I would have been molded into someone else entirely."
Keegan reached out, his fingers brushing Jaron's cheek. "That would be a shame," he said, "because I like the person you are now."
Jaron leaned into Keegan's touch. "You do?" he asked, not in that confident, challenging tone of voice he used when he was playing with Keegan. It was a genuine question this time, and there was genuine hope in it, as if even their mating hadn't fully convinced him that he was good enough.
Keegan's heart melted for his dragon. "Of course I do. You're brave and kind. You stand up for what you believe in, even when it's not easy. That's a rare thing."
A smile lit up Jaron's face. He turned his head, pressing a kiss to Keegan's palm. "You're not just saying that because of my lack of clothes?"
Keegan laughed, giving Jaron's shoulder a playful shove. "You're incorrigible."
"But you love me for it," Jaron teased back with just a hint of insecurity.
Keegan didn't miss a beat. "I do," he said, the words coming easier than he'd expected. "I really do."
Jaron's expression softened, the playfulness giving way to something more tender. Keegan leaned in, capturing Jaron's lips in a gentle kiss. Jaron responded immediately, his hand sliding to the back of Keegan's neck, pulling him closer.
When they parted, Jaron's eyes were half-lidded, his breathing slightly uneven. "Bite me," he whispered, tilting his head to expose his neck. "Please."
Keegan's gaze was drawn to the pulse point on Jaron's neck, the steady throb of his heartbeat visible beneath the skin. The scent of Jaron's blood, rich and enticing, filled his nostrils.
This time, Keegan didn't resist. He didn't want to. He wanted to taste Jaron again, to feel that connection, to reaffirm their bond.
Slowly, almost reverently, Keegan lowered his head. His lips brushed against Jaron's neck, feeling the dragon shiver beneath his touch. Then, with a gentleness that belied his vampire nature, he sank his fangs into Jaron's flesh.
Jaron gasped, his body arching into Keegan's. His fingers tangled in Keegan's hair, holding him close as Keegan drank.
The taste of Jaron's blood was just as Keegan remembered—rich, powerful, and addictive. It flowed over his tongue and down his throat, warming him from the inside out.
But more than that, it was the connection that Keegan craved. As he drank, he could feel Jaron's emotions, his love, his trust, his joy at their connection. It was a heady mix, one that left Keegan wanting more, always.
As Keegan drank from Jaron, the visions came again, but this time, he didn't fight them. With Jaron's presence anchoring him, his powers felt like a gentle stream enveloping him. He allowed his mind to drift, content to let the visions show him what they wanted.
At first, Keegan half-expected to see his future with Jaron again, but instead, he found himself transported to the scene of his own death once more. This time, however, everything was clearer, with more detail than he had ever seen before.
In the vision, Jaron was bending over him, the amulet they had been seeking hanging around his neck. Had that been there before? Keegan tried to think, but it was difficult to focus on anything other than the scene unfolding before him.
Jaron's voice broke through the haze, and for the first time, Keegan could make out the words. "I don't want to do this," Jaron said, his voice thick with emotion.
Keegan heard himself respond, his own voice sounding distant and resigned. "Do it."
The vision ended abruptly, leaving Keegan reeling. He pulled back from Jaron's neck, his breathing heavy as he tried to process what he had just seen. The amulet, Jaron's presence, his own apparent acceptance of his fate—it was all too much to take in at once.
Jaron, sensing Keegan's distress, pulled him close. "What is it?" he asked, his voice soft with concern. "What did you see?"
Keegan didn't want to tell Jaron because it was all too horrible, but he had to, didn't he?
They were supposed to be in this together.
"Kee," Jaron prompted as if he wanted to remind him of this also.
